Encrypt your disks on Linux

It's no coincidence that portable computers have pushed desktop PCs into the background over the past 10 years. Today, users only need desktop systems for computationally intensive work such as video rendering or games. For everything else, even mid-range laptops are now perfectly adequate. But laptops also have one disadvantage: They are far easier to steal than a standalone PC. An appropriate insurance policy can cushion the cost of replacing the device in case of theft. However, it is not so easy to compensate for the loss of data.

Corporations and users can only protect themselves effectively against this kind of horror scenario by completely encrypting the data carriers in the device, from USB sticks to external hard drives. How can a Linux user best secure disk data by means of encryption? This article describes some leading encryption methods and tools for Linux.

Cryptsetup with LUKS

Just about everyone who has ever dealt with encryption on Linux will have come across the abbreviation LUKS [1], which stands for Linux Unified Key Setup. The LUKS standard describes what disk encryption should look like on Linux (Figure 1). LUKS is based on the Cryptsetup tool, which in turn uses the Dmcrypt kernel module of the Linux kernel to manage encrypted volumes.

[...]

Use Express-Checkout link below to read the full article (PDF).

Buy this article as PDF

Express-Checkout as PDF
Price $2.95
(incl. VAT)

Buy Linux Magazine

SINGLE ISSUES
 
SUBSCRIPTIONS
 
TABLET & SMARTPHONE APPS
Get it on Google Play

US / Canada

Get it on Google Play

UK / Australia

Related content

  • VeraCrypt

    The VeraCrypt encryption software comes with a handy graphical interface, and the ability to hide a container in an encrypted volume adds a unique professional feature: plausibly deniable encryption.

  • VeraCrypt

    Protect your data and operating system from prying eyes with VeraCrypt.

  • Discreete Linux

    Internet users can fly under the radar of hackers and data collectors with Discreete Linux.

  • zuluCrypt

    The security of personal data is a major topic in the Linux world. zuluCrypt gives users a tool for uncomplicated encryption of any data.

  • TruPax 9

    The TruPax tool specializes in encrypting small datasets to safeguard your data from prying eyes.

comments powered by Disqus
Subscribe to our Linux Newsletters
Find Linux and Open Source Jobs
Subscribe to our ADMIN Newsletters

Support Our Work

Linux Magazine content is made possible with support from readers like you. Please consider contributing when you’ve found an article to be beneficial.

Learn More

News